How Much Does Stem Cell Therapy Cost?

By Tim Kopatich, CEO Cellebration Wellness

How much is stem cell therapy? According to an analysis by BioInformant, a leading stem cell industry publication, the cost of stem cell therapy ranges from less than $5,000 for simple procedures to $25,000 or more for complex ones. In general, stem cell treatment procedures are paid for out-of-pocket by patients, because they are not covered by medical insurance.

This article explores the key factors that impact the cost of stem cell therapy, including:

• type/source of stem cells used within the protocol.
• number of treatments required.
• quality of the clinic.
• experience of the physician.

According to a recent Bioinformant poll of stem cell patients:

• 30% of the respondents undergoing stem cell treatments spent $5,000 or less.
• 20% spent $5,000 to $10,000.
• 40% spent $10,000 to $25,000.
• 10% spent over $25,000.

Costs depend on the nature of the therapy offered and the degree of progression of the disease or illness being treated.

Why does Stem Cell Therapy appear to be costly?

Stem cell treatment has gained increased traction over the last decade. New trials are being added every day for a wide range of conditions, including autism, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis (MS), arthritis, neuropathy, and more.

While this high volume of publications and trials are promising, R&D costs contribute to the overall cost of stem cell therapy.

Costs of a Stem Cell Transplantation.

For the patient, a stem cell transplant involves multiple steps, including:

• diagnosis
• isolating the stem cells
• re-administering the cells
• post-treatment monitoring and follow-up

There are also real costs for the doctors who provide stem cell treatments. They have overhead costs, including:

• office space
• training acquired through hands-on courses
• support personnel
• administrative requirements

Furthermore, there is the time and expertise required to perform the procedure and offer post-treatment care. In some cases, the physician must pay licensing fees to access stem cell sourcing, processing, or delivery technologies.